The Bangladesh Chapter of Take Back The Tech (TBTT) has started to build resource throughout the country who will be representing TBTT’s sessions at their own campus. After starting the kicks off event in Dhaka, the team is now in Khulna to build campus ambassadors in Khulna University and North Western University.

BdOSN with support from Internet Society (ISOC) Bangladesh Dhaka Chapter is creating a pool of campus ambassadors both in private and public universities. 14 campus ambassadors from the above universities joined in a discussion session with the BdOSN Team on 15th November 2017 at Khulna University.

The participants got a clear guideline on their rules and regulations as a campus ambassador. The session focused on the importance of forming a team, resources to enhance their knowledge and ongoing activities to spread the importance of cyber security among the female students.

Sharmin Kabir, the program officer of BdOSN and Jesmine Akter, the treasurer of the organization attended the session.

While violence against women keeps rising in the cyber world, different nonprofit organizations and community activists are coming forward to raise awareness on the issue and help women be safer online. “Take back the tech: Reclaiming ICTS To End Violence Against Women” is one of such initiatives held in Khulna, on the 14th November. Take Back The Tech, Khulna Chapter - BdOSN and Google’s Women Will Khulna chapter arranged this seminar on online security and discussed the best practices to remain safe online.

Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) with the support from Internet Society (ISOC) Bangladesh Dhaka Chapter , has arranged this session at Project Head Office, Khulna. 114 students from different universities attended the session and shared their experiences and stories with unpleasant incidents on online.

Domain experts shared tips on enhancing security while also highlighting the possible actions that can be taken when harassed, threatened or hacked. Sharmin Kabir, Program Officer of BdOSN discussed the purpose of TBTT and the support framework it provides. Abu Ashraf Masnun, a senior software engineer highlighted on the technical aspects of online security. Shuvro Pal, the convenor of Women Techmakers Khulna co-ordinate the event and shared his insights.

Procheta Nag, a student from CSE, Khulna University shared her experience of getting hacked and the ways she followed to get rid of this trouble with the audiences. The audiences were very much participatory and wished to have such more events in Khulna in future.

15 promising girls from 7 university joined at the University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka on 21st October, 2017 to attend the session titled ‘Ensure a Safe Cyber World for Girls & Women: Capacity Building Workshop for Take Back The Tech’ organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) and supported by Internet Society (ISOC) Dhaka Chapter, Bangladesh.

The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the initiative’s capacity through building campus ambassadors in some of the university located in the capital city of the country. Though it was a rainy day, the participants still joined in time and spontaneously participated at the session.

Throughout the session, the participants learnt about the basic internet things including the use of internet, the techniques & tools to be safe online, strategy to safe their campus girls from being cyber bullying and the roles and responsibilities to be campus an ambassador.

Some of the participants shared their stories and experiences of being bullied or victim of cyber crime. They found the session very effective and promised to work as ‘Campus Ambassador’ in the days ahead.

Shakila Mahjabin Tonni, Lecturer, Dept. of CSE, East West University, Dhaka attended the session. She shared, ‘I have been motivated after joining the session today. Our women need to know about the cyber issues and I believe, they are capable enough to keep them safe from any unpleasant situation happens on online.’ She also shared that she would introduce and arrange such session at her university to create an awareness among the girls studying there.

Sharmin Kabir, Program Officer of BdOSN quoted that this type of arrangement will be continuing in future outside Dhaka. She also shared that the next program will be held in Khulna and Rajshahi in November 2017.